CHITWAN: A search operation for the jeep which plunged into the Trishuli River from Prithvi Highway at Ghoptebhir, Darechok-3 in Chitwan district on Sunday has resumed since 5:30 am today. Security personnel and divers had carried out the search for the Scorpio SUV (Ba 9 Cha 1531) carrying seven persons including former Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Foreign Affairs Madhav Ghimire till 1:30 am today, but in vain. The personnel used magnets, hook anchors, lighting towers and other equipment, but could not find a trace of either the vehicle or the people, informed Chief District Officer Binod Prakash Singh. A team from Rasauli-based Disaster Management Battalion of Nepal Army has been deployed to the incident site while other teams from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are jointly searching around the river. Two boats are being used to search the missing vehicle while the divers are searching people underwater. Three persons including the ex-minister's mother, nephew and bodyguard were killed as the vehicle plunged into the flooded river yesterday. Minister Ghimire and his two younger brothers have gone missing since then. Their driver Bishnu Rai was rescued injured and is undergoing treatment at a local health facility. Recently, a truck had plunged into the Trishuli River from around the same site. Police are yet to find that as well. READ ALSO:

• Trishuli jeep fall: 3 killed, ex-minister Madhav Ghimire among 3 others missing